Downtown hotel development plan brings mixed reaction

Submitted by HCW
This artist rendering shows what the lobby of new downtown hotel could look like. The Evansville Redevelopment Commission voted 5-0 in favor of moving forward with HCW, a Branson, Mo., firm to develop a convention hotel next to the Ford Center on Wednesday.

"We are interested in selling meetings and conventions," said Warren, who's been in Evansville two years. "That's our job, and having a hotel to do that is critically important. We estimate somewhere between $8 and $12 million per year is not being generated (without a Downtown hotel).

"We are fully prepared to begin marketing and promotion of that hotel."

The Evansville Redevelopment Commission voted 5-0 vote Wednesday to open negotiations with HCW of Branson, Mo., on a public-private development on the former Executive Inn site.

City officials say that hotel's closure four years ago created a gap in the local hotel business. But at least one other local hotel operator disagrees.

Gary Nickolick of the Clarion Inn and Conference Center on U.S. 41 blasted the idea of a taxpayer-supported hotel development Downtown.

"The supposed current void created by the demolition of the Executive Inn is a manufactured fairy tale," Nickolick said in a letter addressed to the Courier & Press and local government officials. "We currently have two very nice properties Downtown affiliated with the casino. If there were truly a need for additional hotel rooms Downtown ,why doesn't the free market see the need and fill it?

"None of the rest of us have had the benefit of public money, or free rent or governmental guarantees when our properties were developed."

Nickolick compared the plan to using food and beverage taxes "to finance a new out-of-town pizza restaurant that would be in direct competition with Turoni's and Roca Bar."

Warren said it's "very common" in the convention industry to have public funding in construction of anchor hotels.

"It's all a matter of economic development for us," Warren said. "When (convention guests) are here, they are spending money on goods and services. The generated economic development for our community and revenues for our convention center."

SMG, manager of The Centre, and the hotel developer's independent sales team also will be involved in marketing the property, Warren said.

A few local government officials attended the redevelopment commission meeting Wednesday where Mayor Lloyd Winnecke presented his recommended of HCW as the property's developer.

"It's exciting. It's a great plan," Councilman Jonathan Weaver, D-At-large, said. "I'm just happy to see that we're moving forward and putting something in that empty lot."

The City Council is always eager to look at projects that will improve economic development, said Finance Chairman John Friend, D-5th Ward. "The question we'll be looking at obviously is the financial commitment the community will have to obligate itself to. There will be questions that come up about what kind of financial commitment we have going forward."

Vanderburgh County Commissioners President Marsha Abell, who was on an advisory group that vetted the three proposals, said she agreed with Winnecke that HCW was the best company for Evansville.

County government operates The Centre.

"We're not looking to make The Centre a big profitable thing, but we want to bring conventions here so those people can shop at Eastland Mall, eat at our restaurants, spend their money here," Abell said. "We're going to create the environment so when the conventions come those people can bring their families and spend money in our community."